SEED ORDERS OVER $100 SHIP FREE!
Filipendula rubra

Queen of the Prairie

$3.00 - $9.00

Packet
$3.00

Bare Root Plants
$9.00

Tray of 50
Out of Stock
3 Pack
Out of Stock

Queen of the Prairie heralds fragile sprays of tiny pink buds in early summer.  These pearlescent clusters burgeon out and burst open from bottom to top in an abundance of little flowers attended by a fanfare of filaments.  Floating above the surrounding plants, the cotton candy-colored plumes look exactly like the favorite carnival food.  Color saturation often increases as the flowers mature, ranging from the faintest of pinks to rich, regal magentas.  These blooms ascend from lovely, deeply lobed foliage that provide an attractive backdrop after the showstopping flowers are spent.  Deadheading does not signal for more flower production, so enjoy them while they last!  The stems can sometimes be a ruddy red.

Filipendula rubra is the crowning jewel of any consistently moist site – and requires a great deal of territory to reign over.   Each Queen of the Prairie plant can grow quite large and will colonize in optimal sites.  This plant prefers full sun, but appreciates some shade in particularly hot, dry climates; stems may be weak and tend to lean in less than sunny conditions.  Insufficient water, especially in direct sun, can cause crispy leaves and damage the plant.  If experiencing drought conditions, prune the stem back severely to redirect energy into the roots and encourage new growth.  

Queen of the Prairie produces an abundance of pollen for native bees and other pollinators, but the myriad of flowers do not provide any nectar.  It is considered deer resistant, especially once established.  

This one-of-a-kind native plant is considered rare throughout much of its historic range.     

*This species may be difficult and/or slow to germinate and grow to maturity.  Please note the germination code.

Live Plant Shipping Table

Spring Fall Age/Size
Dormant Bare Roots April/May October 1 year
Potted 3-Packs May/June N/A 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep pots
Potted Trays of 50 May August 2" wide x 5" deep plugs

Filipendula rubra - Queen of the Prairie

Map Key

Present in state
Present but introduced in county
Present and native in county; not rare
Not present in state
Present and native in county; rare
Species extirpated (historic)
State or county listed as noxious
Present in state; exotic

This map shows the native and introduced (adventive) range of this species. Given appropriate habitat and climate, native plants can be grown outside their range.

2 Questions asked on Filipendula rubra

will this bare root plant bloom the first year?
Bare-root plants are about 1 year old by the time we ship them out. They may have stored up enough energy to bloom their first growing season, but we can never expect a bloom the first year due to transplant shock and the new establishment phase.
How deep do the roots grow? I am wondering if I could plant queen of the prairie on or near a leach field.
Hi Suzanna. Queen of the Prairie roots can go pretty deep; they also spread by rhizomatous roots that run closer to the soil surface. This is not a recommended species for planting on or near a leach field because those roots like being damp. It is likely that they would seek out the leach field pipes and cause issues. Check out these species that prefer to keep their roots dry for beautifying that area without risking the structures below.

Seed

Growing your own plants from seed is the most economical way to add natives to your home. Before you get started, one of the most important things to know about the seeds of wild plants is that many have built-in dormancy mechanisms that prevent the seed from germinating. In nature, this prevents a population of plants from germinating all at once, before killing frosts, or in times of drought. To propagate native plants, a gardener must break this dormancy before seed will grow.

Each species is different, so be sure to check the GERMINATION CODE listed on the website, in the catalog, or on your seed packet. Then, follow the GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS prior to planting. Some species don't need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years.

Seed dormancy can be broken artificially by prolonged refrigeration of damp seed in the process of cold/moist STRATIFICATION. A less complicated approach is to let nature handle the stratifying through a dormant seeding, sowing seeds on the surface of a weed-free site in late fall or winter. Tucked safely beneath the snow, seeds will be conditioned by weathering to make germination possible in subsequent growing seasons.

To learn more, read our BLOG: How to Germinate Native Seeds

Dormant Bare Root Plants

We dig plants when they are dormant from our outdoor beds and ship them April-May and October. Some species go dormant in the summer and we can ship them July/August. We are among the few still employing this production method, which is labor intensive but plant-friendly. They arrive to you dormant, with little to no top-growth (bare-root), packed in peat moss. They should be planted as soon as possible. Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. A root photo is included with each species to illustrate the optimal depth and orientation. Planting instructions/care are also included with each order.

Download: Installing Your Bare-Root Plants

Potted Plants

3-packs and trays of 32, 38, or 50 plants leave our Midwest greenhouses based on species readiness (being well-rooted for transit) and order date; Spring shipping is typically early May through June, and Fall shipping is mid-August through September. Potted 3-packs and trays of 38 plugs are started from seed in the winter so are typically 3-4 months old when they ship. Trays of 32/50 plugs are usually overwintered so are 1 year old. Plant tray cells are approximately 2” wide x 5” deep in the trays of 38 and 50, and 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep in the 3-packs and trays of 32; ideal for deep-rooted natives. Full-color tags and planting & care instructions are included with each order.

Download: Planting and Care of Potted Plants

*PLEASE NOTE: we are a mail order nursery and have no retail facilities, but you may pick up your order if prior arrangements are made. Pick up orders are subject to **MN Sales Tax.

Shipping & Handling Charges

SEED $100.00 and under: $5.00
Retail SEED orders over $100.00 ship free!

Custom seed mixes or discounted seed sales over $100, add 5% of the total seed cost
(for orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required)

BARE ROOT and POTTED PLANTS $50.00 and under: $9.00
over $50.00: 18% of the total plant cost. (For orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required.)

TOOLS and BOOKS have the shipping fee included in the cost of the product (within the contiguous US).

**We are required to collect state sales tax in certain states. Your state's eligibility and % will be calculated at checkout. MN State Sales Tax of 7.375% is applied for orders picked up at our MN location. Shipping & handling charges are also subject to the sales tax.

Shipping Season

SEED, TOOLS and BOOKS are sent year-round. Most orders ship within 1-3 business days.

BARE ROOT PLANTS are shipped during optimal transplanting time: Spring (April-May) and Fall (Oct). Some ephemeral species are also available for summer shipping. Since our plants are field-grown, Nature sets the schedule each year as to when our season will begin and end. We fill all orders, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the best of our ability depending on weather conditions beyond our control.

POTTED PLANTS (Trays of 32/38/50 plugs and 3-packs) typically begin shipping early May and go into June; shipping time is heavily dependent on all the species in your order being well-rooted. If winter-spring greenhouse growing conditions are favorable and all species are well-rooted at once, then we ship by order date (first come, first serve). We are a Midwest greenhouse, and due to the challenges of getting all the species in the Mix & Match and Pre-Designed Garden Kits transit-ready at the same time, we typically can't ship before early May. Earlier shipment requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

*We are unable to ship PLANTS (bare root or potted) outside the contiguous US or to CALIFORNIA due to regulations.

Delivery

We ship using USPS, UPS and Spee Dee. UPS and Spee Dee are often used for expediting plant orders; they will not deliver to Post Office Box numbers, so please also include your street address if ordering plants. We send tracking numbers to your email address so please include it when you order.

FOR MORE DETAILED SHIPPING INFORMATION, INCLUDING CANADA SHIPPING RATES (SEED ONLY), PLEASE SEE 'SHIPPING' AT THE FOOTER OF THIS WEBSITE.

Details

Seeds/Packet
75
Seeds/Ounce
15,000
Germination Code
C(90)
Life Cycle
Perennial
Sun Exposure
Full
Soil Moisture
Wet, Medium-Wet
Height
5 feet
Bloom Time
June, July, August
Bloom Color
Pink
Advantages
Deer Resistant
Recommended for home landscaping but potentially aggressive; could overwhelm small landscapes
USDA Zones
4-7
Plant Spacing
18-24"
Catalog Code
FIL02F